Daniel Smith Named Interim LCPS Superintendent By School Board After Grand Jury Report

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — The Loudoun County School Board voted to name Daniel Smith as the interim superintendent for the school system at an emergency meeting on Thursday evening.

The previous superintendent, Scott Ziegler, was fired by the school board on Tuesday after a grand jury released a report into the school system's handling of two high-profile sexual assaults in 2021. The grand jury determined that Ziegler and other school administrators acted in their own self-interest as they responded to the assaults.

Smith is currently the chief of staff for Loudoun County Public Schools. He has served in that role since April 2022.

The school board is required by a state regulation to designate an interim superintendent whenever the position is vacant.

Read more: Loudoun Schools Superintendent Scott Ziegler Fired On Tuesday

Prior to joining the Loudoun County school system earlier this year, Smith served as the principal at Lake Braddock Secondary School in Fairfax County, the largest school in the state.

Last year, Smith was named the secondary principal of the year by the Virginia PTA and outstanding principal of the year in Fairfax County, according to the LCPS website.

“During his brief tenure with LCPS, Dr. Smith has earned the School Board’s trust in what has been a very difficult time for the school division,” said School Board Chair Jeff Morse of the Dulles District. “His familiarity with the school division will ease a time of transition.”

Andrew Hoyler, who represented the Broad Run district on the school board until last month, believes Smith is a strong candidate for the position.

"I 100% support Dr. Smith, and he was the individual I was hoping to replace Dr. Ziegler with. In fact, my last email to Dr. Smith after I was voted out was letting him know that we were close to having the 5 votes to make this change and I wished him the best," Hoyler wrote on Facebook. "Dr. Smith was hired earlier this year and was NOT an LCPS employee when the two sexual assaults occurred."

Hoyler also noted that the superintendent is the only employee who can be hired and fired by the school board. The decision to retain or fire the other administrators named in the grand jury's report is up to the superintendent.

Morse also said he hopes the new superintendent can represent a new chapter for the school system.

“Dr. Smith’s appointment represents the end to what has been a very difficult two years for the community," Morse said. "It is a first step toward restoring community trust in the school division, including the transparency our community deserves.”

In a news release published by the school system, Smith said he was optimistic about the new role.

“I accept the challenges that come with my new role and look forward to refocusing the efforts of our employees on maintaining, and improving, a world-class school division,” Smith said on Thursday. “It is my goal to create a climate that, in the short term, rebuilds public trust and, in the long term, allows the next superintendent to devote their efforts to the most important work schools perform: educating students in a safe environment that allows them to reach their full potential.”

Related:

• Loudoun School Sexual Assaults: Grand Jury Releases Report
• Teen Sentenced For 2 Sexual Assaults At Loudoun County High Schools: Report
• Loudoun Teen Pleads No Contest To 2nd Sexual Assault
• Loudoun Teen Found Guilty Of Assaulting Girl In Bathroom
• Sentence Changed For Teen Convicted In Loudoun Sexual Assaults

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center can provide information about reporting and coping with sexual abuse. Their website also features training materials and tips to prevent sexual abuse. The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network operates a 24/7 hotline for victims of sexual assault. The hotline can be reached at 1-800-656-4673.